Buying a computer - need advice

[Fry]

I have an mbox, and I am buying a new computer. I am computer stupid, so I have no idea what is good or not. I have up to $1000, and need advice on what computer is probably the best for home recording. Any advice would be great.

[Fry]

crap, this should be in the recording thread. sorry.

[Polaris20]

Finding a competent tech that can read Digidesign's lengthy but accurate system compatibility charts and having them build you a computer would be the best route.

You can build an amazing computer that will max out PTLE's 32 tracks for well under $1000.

[albee1952]

This page has all you need for info.
http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...=5&o=7&fpart=1

Or you could match my setup:Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe, AMD x2 6000, 4 gig Kingston DDR2-800 RAM, MSI Nvidia 7300GT, drives up the wazoo, DIGI003 running 7.3.1cs5 on XP Dverb test=104

[jb4674]

Originally Posted by albee1952

This page has all you need for info.
http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...=5&o=7&fpart=1

Or you could match my setup:Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe, AMD x2 6000, 4 gig Kingston DDR2-800 RAM, MSI Nvidia 7300GT, drives up the wazoo, DIGI003 running 7.3.1cs5 on XP Dverb test=104

Why 4 gigs of ram if you're not using a 64-bit system? That's wasted ram IMO.

Jimmy

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by jb4674

Why 4 gigs of ram if you're not using a 64-bit system? That's wasted ram IMO.

Jimmy

true, xp won't recognize it all. i had the same rig, but figured since xp will only see 3gb, i dropped 3gb back in it. since i am running a dual core opteron, i really don't have many problems with speed.


rich

[CityofBlindingLights]

I myself am a Mac user/specialist, and at the risk of sounding like an Macvangelist and getting flamed for it, PM me if you're interested. I know Macs like the back of my hand (as well as PCs; Macs are just a personal choice). Anyway, as I said, PM me if you're interested, I could really make it worth your while.

[albee1952]

I went with 4 gigs of RAM to preserve the dual channel function(matched sticks in all slots). Windows actually recognizes 3.2 gig so there is still a performance boost over the 2 gig I started with and it was just too cheap to pass up.

[glpg80]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I went with 4 gigs of RAM to preserve the dual channel function(matched sticks in all slots). Windows actually recognizes 3.2 gig so there is still a performance boost over the 2 gig I started with and it was just too cheap to pass up.

actually.. you can get XP 32 bit to recognize 4G of ram.

without doing this, XP uses the rest of the RAM for page file.

think of page file allocation as the same thing as L1/L2/L3 cache on the mobo and processor, only page files load "pages" of code in very large chunks, where cache only handles up to 8-16MB.

you also will have to max out your RAM to start using PF for the processor.

also, cache is quicker.

BUT, if you would rather use the RAM-stick as its function of storing and recieving data, you can modify the BOOT.INI file by putting the command /PAE to utilize 4G of ram and not ~3G with 1G of wasted PG space.

PAE stands for parameter array - array's the address bus (not the data bus) for RAM going to the processor.

how do i know this? because ive done it and it works. running close to the same system myself - AMD 6000+ overclocked to 3.19G, 4G RAM - XP-32bit - twin raptor western digi's running RAID 1.

did it all for around $800 shipping and all.

god i love christmas sales xD

[Rip]

Originally Posted by Polaris20

Finding a competent tech that can read Digidesign's lengthy but accurate system compatibility charts and having them build you a computer would be the best route.

You can build an amazing computer that will max out PTLE's 32 tracks for well under $1000.

it truly amazed me..(and pissed me off)
when i recently bought a PT 003 console rig to find out how particular their "approved hardware spec's" are, and the issues I had getting it up and running.

Ive never seen a system so uncompatable with the "average" computer out there.

Its pathetic. Not to mention the actual PT software is lightyears behind Nuendo.

[jb4674]

Originally Posted by glpg80

actually.. you can get XP 32 bit to recognize 4G of ram.

without doing this, XP uses the rest of the RAM for page file.

think of page file allocation as the same thing as L1/L2/L3 cache on the mobo and processor, only page files load "pages" of code in very large chunks, where cache only handles up to 8-16MB.

you also will have to max out your RAM to start using PF for the processor.

also, cache is quicker.

BUT, if you would rather use the RAM-stick as its function of storing and recieving data, you can modify the BOOT.INI file by putting the command /PAE to utilize 4G of ram and not ~3G with 1G of wasted PG space.

PAE stands for parameter array - array's the address bus (not the data bus) for RAM going to the processor.

how do i know this? because ive done it and it works. running close to the same system myself - AMD 6000+ overclocked to 3.19G, 4G RAM - XP-32bit - twin raptor western digi's running RAID 1.

did it all for around $800 shipping and all.

god i love christmas sales xD

While that may be true, it is not always the case because your system board (particulalry PCI adapters and its drivers) has to be able to support it and MS has been finding that not all PCI busses on a system board support DAC.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system...AE/PAEdrv.mspx


Jimmy

[albee1952]

RAID is not supported with Protools so don't bother with that. Also, the comment regarding protools vs. Nuendo, my 2 cents is-all the DAW systems out there are capable of great sound. The quality depends on the talent of the engineer and the quality of the mic, preamp, converters and acoustics involved. You can feel free to trash protools all you want but I will keep using it as I simply like the way it works. I have a friend that ran Nuendo for several years before adding protools and he likes it plenty. Nuendo works great for sure but protools continues to be a major player(if not a defacto standard) in the recording industry. Try all of the DAW software available and pick the one that works best for you. All of them require a certain amount of homework. The fact that protools is "hardware finicky" is compounded by ignorant salespeople. I can't tell you how often I catch up with someone in a parking lot outside (music store name deleted) and tell them the info was wrong and suggest they go to the company website and get the facts.

[Rip]

not trying to get into a protools debate but..

Just for the record I never mentioned protools couldnt get you a great "sound".

It definitely is behind the times in workflow, and intuitive thinking.
And i do think the finicky hardware goes beyond salespeople.

We are talking about PT needing exact chipsets, exact firewire standards..etc.
Can you "get it to work" on non-approved chipsets..etc? Sure, but its not going to be 100% reliable.

I've accepted my fate, dropped 6G's on the new PT rig..
just because Protools IS the "defacto standard" and I need the combatability between
studios, avid, final cut..etc.


One slight real world example of what im saying.
In nuendo, you can highlight a region..apply effect after effect to that region..
go on to do 100 more edits in other areas.. come back, highlight the region..and make changes to that region that you did 100 edits ago, without effecting the 99 edits after.

I looked and looked and thought i was crazy that i couldnt find where to do that in PT.
Guess what.. not there. Crazy.

[waylay00]

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

true, xp won't recognize it all. i had the same rig, but figured since xp will only see 3gb, i dropped 3gb back in it. since i am running a dual core opteron, i really don't have many problems with speed.


rich

XP actually recognizes 4GB "behind the scenes," as it assigns that extra memory to loaded drivers, PCI-E bus, shared V-RAM, etc..

I'll try to find more info on that.